Surgical instrument



July 7, 1931. P A. c. BAI JNS KI ET AL 1,313,693

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Filed June 21, 1929 g a i INZENTIQIBSI ATTORNEY 67 f Patented .luly 7, 1931 states AMELIA o. BALINSKI, or TAR-aYrev-rn, AND EnwaanMAHoNnY, on NEW ROCHELLE,

NEW YORK SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed June 21,

This invention relates to hand controlled, power actutated rotative tools and more particularly to surgical instruments.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device adapted for use in cutting plaster cast-s as applied in surgical operations, the saw shown being driven by a flexible shaft actuated from any convenient source of r0- tary motion, and combined with the saw is a handle by which the device may be effectively maneuvered.

A further feature is in the provision of a device adapted to operate on a plaster cast, encasing a limb or other member, whereby the cast may be readily removed without injury to the said limb or member.

It has been the practice in the past when removing such a plaster cast to fracture or crack the same and thereafter to remove in small sections the material of which the cast is composed but this is tedious, slow work and usually is painful and discomforting to the patient. In our device ease of operation, speed, and a freedom from disturbance to the patient are prominent features.

Another aim is to produce a device having its cutting member removably engaged, to permit of instant substitution in case 0 breakage orbecoming unfit for use because of dullness.

These several advantageous features are attained by the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which 2-- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the in vention, the base being in section.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the same with the hood in section'to disclose the structure.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the hood and handle support, the saw and stand being in side elevation.

A handle 10, of a convenient shape to be grasped firmly by the hand of an operator, has fixed in its lower end a rigid metallic sleeve 11 in which is revolubly mounted a spindle 12, connected at its upper end with a 1929. Serial No. 372,708.

flexible shaft 13, driven by any convenient source of power.

lligidly carried by the sleeve 11 is an arouae hood 14 having opposed sides 15 covering.

an angular arc of substantially degrees, the 21X1S Of the arcs being provided with inreaching hubs 16 containing slots 17 directed outwardly.

Riveted to the sides 15, adjacent their lower horizontal edges, are spring plates 18 containing roundopenings in their free ends, disposed in register with the. inner ends of the slotsl? and adapted to engage the outer ends of a transverse arbor spindle 19 normally held by the plates 18 to rotate within the slots.

It will be noticed that the hood 1,4, offset to one side of the slee ve 11, and fixed in the arbor 19, tocontact withthe hub 16 of its off,-

set side is a toothed circular cutter 20 having.

f ing lateral horizontal ledges 24-25, respectively upper and lower and connected by rods 26, on which is slidably mounted a plate 2'? fixed to the upper end of a narrow bar 28 slid.- able through the ledge 25.

Interposed between the ledge 25 and plate 27 are helical com ression s rin s 29 surrounding the rods 26, and fixed in the upper end of the bar 28 is a rod 30 passing through the ledge 24 and being provided with a cap 31 convenient of access from the handle 10.

Mounted on the lower end of the bar 28, which is sufficiently narrow as to pass freely through the kerf of the saw 20, is a guard 32, having, at a point directly below the aXis of the saw, a concave recess 33.

It will now be seen that the guard 32 is normally drawn upward towards the saw by the springs 29 and may be depressed by the cap 31, in accordance with the thickness of the cast to be cut.

The cavity 33 in the guard is adapted to receive the peripheral edge of the saw when the cast is severed, thereby providing for a clean cut entirely through the mass, and it is to be noted that the bar 28 will pass through the cut made by the saw without interference with the edge of the out.

Although the foregoing is descriptive of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that minor changes may be made in its construction, without the exercise of invention or conflicting with the scope of the claims hereto appended.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. A hand controlled circular saw for plaster casts, having a handle to maneuver said saw, a hood in which the saw is mounted, a power drive extending through said handle to the saw, a frame carried by said handle, a guard, a bar on said guard slidable in said frame, said bar being of lesser Width than the saw, springs tending to raise said guard relative to the saw, and means for manually depressing said guard.

2. A hand controlled circular saw for plaster casts, having a handle to maneuver said saw, a hood in which the saw is mounted, a power drive extending through said handle to the saw, a frame carried by said handle, a guard slidable in said frame, said guard having a recess into which the saw may extend, resilient means to press said saw and guard towards each other, and manual'means for causing separation thereof.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures.

' AMELIA C. BALIN SKI.

EDWARD MAHONEY. 

